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Students tackle heat, nerves on first day of fall 2023 semester

August 17, 2023

A look at how new and returning students across all 4 campuses handle the first day of school

On the first day of the fall semester at Arizona State University’s Tempe campus, students are essentially looking for three things: a water source, their classrooms and a path forward as they navigate their way through college and toward a career. 

Student veteran Eliza DelaPaz is also looking for something else; she wants to “expand (her) purpose and passion in this world.”

Because DelaPaz is not a typical college student. 

She graduated high school in 2013 and joined the Marines the month after she turned 18. After serving six years in the military – some of them with the Marine Security Guard – DelaPaz then went a different route.

She spent time traveling abroad, getting to know other cultures and herself. She lived in West Africa for three years, where she owned a digital marketing agency and a fitness center. Then she moved to an East African island where she spent five months meditating and reflecting on her life.

Woman walking on ASU Tempe campus

Third-year neuroscience major and transfer student Eliza DelaPaz walks to class on the first day of the fall semester on the Tempe campus Aug. 17. Photo by Samantha Chow/Arizona State University

When DelaPaz got back to the states in September 2022, she spent three months driving across the country, visiting national monuments, seeing how a sustainable commmunity works, and reconnecting with family members and understanding her roots. 

“These opportunities helped me to expand my consciousness and be more open to changing my belief systems,” said DelaPaz, whose education will be funded through the Veteran Readiness and Employment program. “This has allowed me to have more compassion for people, places and cultures that maybe I didn’t understand from my perspective growing up in the Western world.”

Today, DelaPaz is a certified life coach, a yoga teacher and a social media influencer. She said her life experiences and spiritual endeavors have prepared her for today – her first day at a major university

At 9 a.m., she attended her first class, Basic Energy Science, in the Rob and Melani Walton Center for Planetary Health. DelaPaz was one of 18 students and 75 minutes later, she had her first college class under her belt.

DelaPaz will be taking 15 credit hours this semester, majoring in neuroscience. She hopes to obtain her PhD in a few years.

“I’m excited to have this opportunity with the experiences I now have,” DelaPaz said. “I feel more equipped to receive this information and knowledge, and can now apply it effectively.”

Woman handing out popsicle to student on bike

First-year computer science major Vansh Malhotra (right) gets a free popsicle from student organization advisor Hannah Parmelee outside of the Tempe campus Memorial Union on the first day of classes on Aug. 17. Photo by Samantha Chow/Arizona State University

Showing up prepared

At just after 9:30 a.m., students were beginning to mill around the Polytechnic campus.

But inside the Student Union, Lynett James, an academic success advisor coordinator, was sitting at a quiet “Can I Help?” booth.

“We’ve had a few students come by,” she said. “The usual questions for the first day: Where do I get my ID? Where is my classroom? Typical stuff.” 

Some students could be seen studying the campus map they had downloaded onto their phone but, for the most part, the first day of school felt ordinary.

Perhaps that’s a testament to the job ASU does in preparing students for the new school year.

Or, more and more students are doing what first-year student Melissa Figueroa did before Thursday. 

“I actually came three days ago to see the campus and where my classes are,” said Figueroa, who is majoring in agribusiness. “So I’m not nervous. I don’t feel like, ‘Where am I supposed to go?’ It seems like a lot of students already know what they’re doing.”

Inside room 135 of Santan Hall, Assistant Teaching Professor Jessica Barnett was guiding students through the curriculum of GIT 215, her Introduction to Web Authoring class. 

For Barnett, the first day of school is a chance to get her students acclimated.

“Just to set expectations, to help them understand what they need to do during the semester,” Barnett said. 

The students in Barnett’s class were as quiet as the campus, but Dylan Heath understood the silence.

Heath, a sophomore majoring in professional flight, recalled not knowing his classmates his first day as a freshman.

“Nobody talked to each other. You could just feel that vibe,” he said. “But after the first week, that all changed. It felt like high school again.” 

Heath had some words of advice for students experiencing anxiety on the first day of school.

“Just talk to people,” he said. “Make some friends. Meet some new people. I already connected today with a couple of people I didn’t know. This is a great place to do that.”

Tackling first-day nerves

ASU’s West campus also had a chill vibe — and its tree-lined paths and large stretches of green space may even make it a cool (or cooler) campus. 

But that didn’t stop some students from being understandably anxious on the first day of school.  

Fara Alessandri said she was so nervous, she started shaking during her first class.  

The exchange student from Indonesia wanted to make a great first impression on her professor. But then he suggested a brainstorming session. 

“Back in Indonesia, that is not something we often do,” said Alessandri, a global management major, who was sitting on a shady bench with a cohort of other exchange students. “I was so nervous, I was shaking. I started speaking and was shaking the entire time I spoke.”  

Group of students sit on a bench on ASU's West campus

Indonesian exchange students (left to right) Alika Swity, Bagas Wijaya, Arma Nadifah, Farah Alessandria and Zahra Khaliqah talk during a break on the first day of the fall semester on the West campus Aug. 17. Photo by Charlie Leight/ASU News

But the experience was still a success. 

“By the end of the class, he knew my name,” she said. 

In front of the Fletcher Lawn, Samuel Vernet was waiting in line for a photo booth that was set up for students, when free drinks, camera-shaped cookies and chips were handed out. 

Vernet was coming from his 9 a.m. class. He breathed in and let out a long sigh as if he’d been holding it in all morning. 

“I had a very nerve-wracking morning,” said Vernet, an exploratory applied computing student. “I was nervous before the class started and I was nervous in the classroom. I could not stop being nervous.” 

Vanessa O’Neal, a fourth-year student from California studying global management who was also waiting for the booth, had some friendly advice.

“It’s OK. It’s going to be OK,” O’Neal said. “You’re a freshman. It’s very common to be overwhelmed.”

The stream of students ebbed and flowed as they walked to and from classes. Small groups gathered on benches and outdoor tables and the food court area was filled with people meeting old friends and being introduced to new friends. 

But some students were content to be alone. 

By 11 a.m., Hana Cofield, a fourth-year student studying criminal justice, had already spent two hours on assignments in the Fletcher Library.

“I don’t like procrastinating,” she said.  

Help Centers were scattered throughout the campus and volunteers answered questions about classes, parking and places to hang out and get food. 

“I’ve seen a lot of happy faces,” said Yocelyn Ruiz, an event planner for the West campus. “It’s been a successful day.”

Freshman Kaiya Warman, from Tucson, described her first day as “amazing.” There were no first-year fears for her. 

“There is so much support,” said Warman, a first-generation student studying integrative health. “I was not nervous at all. All of the events that ASU planned really prepared me for today.” 

Carlos Zuniga, a second-year student, came out of his class around 10:30 a.m. and headed to his dorm to take a nap. 

“I couldn’t sleep last night,” said Zuniga, a communication major. “I am nervous every first day. But it’s the nervous excitement that comes with starting a new year.” 

The significance of a Sun Card

Meanwhile at the Downtown Phoenix campus, Daniel Maldonado was on hand to help students with everything from directions to health insurance.

Maldonado, a junior majoring in nonprofit management and leadership in the Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions, is a student worker for the Dean of Students’ Office.

On Thursday, he was stationed at a table just inside the doors of the University Center.

“I’m helping students navigate through the buildings and through my job I’m reaching out to students about their basic needs — food assistance, health insurance, all of that,” he said.

The most common question of the morning?

“They all want to know where to get their Sun Card,” he said, pointing across the hall while at that very moment a student veered by to ask him, “Where are the ID cards?”

View from above of students sitting in chairs in an ASU lobby

Students spend some down time in the lobby of the University Center on the Downtown Phoenix campus during the first day of the fall semester on Aug. 17. Photo by Charlie Leight/ASU News

The ASU Sun Cards are very important on the Downtown Phoenix campus, as students must swipe them to get into the classroom buildings and into some of the individual labs and rooms.

Mercedes Amador, director of student engagement and retention for the College of Health Solutions, was in the lobby of the Health North building when she saw several card-less students waiting outside the doors to be let in.

“A lot of them don’t know their ID card is more than just an ID card, or they just got it and it’s not in the system yet,” she said as she opened the door for them.

It was also the first day of the academic session for Amador, who is in the second year of the doctoral degree program in leadership and innovation in the Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College. She is taking classes through ASU Online while also working full time.

“I’m looking at better supporting our underrepresented students that are health degree-seeking,” she said.

The College of Health Solutions had tables set up in the lobbies of both Health North and Health South.

Sierra Crenshaw, coordinator of student engagement for the college, was staffing the Health South table, which was covered with stickers, highlighters, notepads, pens and bags of trail mix. A backdrop was set up nearby for students to take first-day-of-class selfies.

“People are asking if they can have what’s on the table and it’s an immediate yes,” she said.

“Hopefully we make their day a little brighter with some fun stuff.”

Story written with contributions from ASU reporters Marshall Terrill, Scott Bordow, Dolores Tropiano and Mary Beth Faller.

Top photo: Students walk around outside of the Tempe campus Memorial Union on the first day of classes on Aug. 17. Photo by Samantha Chow/Arizona State University

 
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Congressional Conference brings state, industry leaders together to talk about the future of Arizona

August 17, 2023

Technology, economy and skilled labor top priorities

Arizona’s economy is shifting into a semiconductor powerhouse and ASU is at the forefront of not only advancing the technology but also creating the workforce needed to sustain that transformation.

That was the theme at the seventh annual Congressional Conference held Aug. 15 at Arizona State University’s Tempe campus, titled “Advancing Arizona’s Technological Competitiveness.”

The daylong event highlighted how Arizona is a major player in the U.S. push to regain the competitive edge in semiconductor research, development and manufacturing.

The conference featured panels and speakers that included members of Congress, academic leaders and industry experts.

Throughout the day, many speakers focused on the critical need to train a workforce to fill the thousands of jobs that will be created soon in the new domestic semiconductor industry. Workers will be needed not only to research and develop next-generation technology but also to manufacture the advanced components, as well to support the industry in roles ranging from restaurant workers to teachers.

U.S. Rep. Debbie Lesko said that Arizona is lucky to be home to many diverse industries and discussion is needed now to address the challenges.

“These companies, many on the cutting edge of emerging technology, require skilled labor, robust manufacturing and secure supply chains to continue their investment in our state,” she said in remarks via video.

“I am thankful to Arizona State for facilitating these important discussions to ensure Arizona remains competitive as technology advances and new leaders seek to find a home here in our state.”

Technology is inextricably linked to the state’s economic progress, said Sally C. Morton, executive vice president of ASU’s Knowledge Enterprise. 

She noted that ASU is now leading several large-scale research projects thanks to legislators’ support in securing funding.

“Congressional approval of federal investment via the CHIPS and Science Act, among other legislation, really fuels America’s global competitiveness.

“ASU plays an important role in the act’s implementation with respect to both research and education. ASU has the technical capabilities, world-class faculty, the nation’s largest engineering college as well as other academic units, and relationships with semiconductor industry leaders such as Applied Materials, Intel and (Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company),” she said.

“We partner with state entities on workforce training and corporate engagement, we invest in accelerated faculty hiring and infrastructure to support research efforts — all to advance the technological competitiveness and economic resilience of Arizona.”

View of woman speaking on large screen

U.S. Rep. Debbie Lesko speaks via video at the 2023 Congressional Conference, Tuesday, Aug. 15, at the Memorial Union on ASU’s Tempe campus. Photo by Charlie Leight/ASU News

ASU leading major technology initiatives

A panel discussion titled “ASU Technology Fireside Chat” highlighted several large-scale projects at the university.

SWAP Hub

Krishnendu Chakrabarty, a professor of microelectronics and an electrical engineer, said he left Duke University to come to ASU in January because “I was very excited by the opportunities and the vision at ASU to drive microelectronics.

“As the CHIPS Act was signed and there was so much excitement about regrowing and resurging microelectronics in this country, this was the place to be.”

He discussed the SWAP Hub, a collaboration on research and development that would speed the time it takes to transform lab ideas into practical solutions. The SWAP Hub, as outlined in its proposal, is led by ASU and has more than 60 corporate, startup, academic and national lab partners from the semiconductor and defense sectors. It is proposed for consideration as part of the Microelectronics Commons, a $1.63 billion Department of Defense program funded by the 2022 CHIPS and Science Act.

“The hubs are intended to provide the mechanism whereby any researcher could take ideas from the lab and prototype them, demonstrate scalability and viability, and it could lead to actual commercialization,” he said.

“Currently we have a real shortage of trained engineers in microelectronics. The pipeline isn’t there, so we need to work with the community colleges, going all the way down to K–12.”

EPIXC

Sridhar Seetharaman, a professor of engineering, said that the U.S. Department of Energy selected ASU to receive up to $70 million to create a Clean Energy Manufacturing Innovation Institute devoted to fighting greenhouse gas emissions from industrial process heating. The project is called Electrified Processes for Industry Without Carbon, or EPIXC.

“The purpose of EPIXC is to re-industrialize the nation by developing technologies that allow you to de-carbonize manufacturing – basically take carbon out of the loop when you’re producing products,” he said.

EPICX is seeking cost-effective solutions to produce products using clean electric power. The effort will also seek to retrain workers, including those in tribal areas, that lost jobs due to the closure of coal plants.

“Ultimately, you can only deploy this as people are trained,” he said.

Arizona Water Innovation Initiative

Dave White, associate vice president for research advancement at ASU, said the initiative is a federal-state partnership, with the state committing $40 million. ASU will work with industrial, municipal, agricultural, tribal and international partners to deploy new technology for water conservation, desalination and reuse.

“While the money is important, what the money signifies is our ability to develop new solutions to Arizona’s water challenges,” he said.

Immigration reform to help small businesses

U.S. Rep. Juan Ciscomani told the crowd in the Memorial Union that he’s focused on legislation to ease the worker shortage. He co-sponsored a bill called the Hire Act to reduce red tape for small and rural businesses to hire seasonal workers under the guest visa program.

“The number one issue I keep hearing about every time I go and talk to businesses — whether small businesses or large corporations — is people, workforce,” he said.

Work visas is one way to tackle that issue, Ciscomani said.

“I’m an immigrant and that’s a lens through which I see things — as being a grateful American and also someone given the opportunity to live here, work here, be here,” he said.

“So two of the groups I’m very focused on finding opportunities for are those that want to come here and work, and our DACA students that have been here already and deserve a real shot at the American dream as well.”

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U.S. Rep. Juan Ciscomani speaks during the 2023 Congressional Conference held Aug. 15 in Tempe. Photo by Charlie Leight/ASU News

Competing for workers in manufacturing

A panel discussion titled “Developing Skilled Human Resource Assets for Thriving in Technological Revolutions” was moderated by U.S. Rep. Andy Biggs.

The panelists, who addressed how businesses are competing for the same pool of skilled workers, were Michael Cook, global director of the Academic Enablement Group; Anne Gielczyk, vice president of NOCTI Business Solutions; Debra Volzer, who leads government and workforce partnerships for the Society of Manufacturing Engineers; and John Zappa, director of product management for The ARM Institute.

Workforce development will have to start with changing the minds of young people and parents, who often don’t realize that manufacturing jobs can be well-paying, Gielczyk said.

“We can’t fill the pipeline fast enough,” she said.

Another important area is reskilling, Cook said.

“We don’t want to see leakage of people who are just retiring because they don’t have the most contemporary of skill sets,” he said.

“We have to bring them into the forward-thinking economy.”

Volzer said her organization has launched an initiative to identify the barriers to workforce recruitment and retention in manufacturing.

“Last year, 60% of manufacturing workers exited because they were unhappy in their role,” she said.

Group of four people sitting at long table talking and laughing during panel

U.S. Rep. Andy Biggs (right) moderates a panel on "Developing Skilled Human Resource Assets for Thriving in Technological Revolutions" at the 2023 Congressional Conference. Photo by Charlie Leight/ASU News

Securing sustainability

Another panel discussion, titled “Empowering Economic Growth: Resilient American Manufacturing,” was moderated by U.S. Rep. Greg Stanton and addressed innovation in water and energy conservation.

“We can’t meet the needs of our growing population or continue to attract and support businesses like the semiconductor industry if we don’t solve our challenges with water,” Stanton said.

One of his first bills in Congress was the creation of the Arizona Environmental Infrastructure Authority to support conservation and reuse projects.

The panelists included Robert Bruck, vice president for corporate business development at Applied Materials Inc.; Seema Phull, chief strategy officer for Kore Power; Robert Sandoval, environmental, safety and health program manager for Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company; and Brian Sherman, chief innovation officer for the Arizona Commerce Authority.

Bruck said, “In our industry, we cannot emphasize energy resiliency enough,” especially with the advent of artificial intelligence.

“As these AI tools and solutions come into our society today, the data centers of the world use about 10% of what’s on the grid. Left unaltered, by 2030, they’ll use 30% of the grid.

“Things like making the grid smarter is good for everybody — bringing in renewables like wind and solar as part of the grid as well as battery and storage technologies.

“We can’t just create a problem in the chip industry that we can’t mitigate or solve,” he said, adding that Applied Materials is working with ASU on long-term projects to address the issue.

Sherman said that industry has been a leader in water-recycling innovation.

“We have water constraints, that’s obvious,” he said. “I think a lot of solutions will come from the entrepreneurial community.”

Man at lectern with group of people seated at long table next to him for panel

U.S. Rep. Greg Stanton moderated a discussion on "Empowering Economic Growth: Resilient American Manufacturing." Panelists (from left to right) were Robert Sandoval, environmental safety and health program manager for Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company; Seema Phull, chief strategy officer for Kore Power; Brian Sherman, chief innovation officer for the Arizona Commerce Authority; and Robert Bruck, vice president for corporate business development at Applied Materials Inc. Photo by Charlie Leight/ASU News

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) has been forced to come up with recycling and reuse solutions already because Taiwan has also been in a drought, Sandoval said.

“A lot of those solutions have been integrated into the design of the new factories,” he said.

“One thing we have really focused on is hitting that point where we’re able to reuse water 3.5 times before it’s discharged from the facility.

“We will start up the facility with the ability to recycle 65% of the water.”

Kore Power is building a plant in Buckeye, Arizona, and Phull said the company is designing both its manufacturing process and the building to be water efficient. But it’s costly.

“That’s where ASU can help us is with innovative ideas and partnerships,” she said.

Drawing diverse industries

Both of Arizona’s senators – Mark Kelly and Kyrsten Sinema – addressed the conference via recorded remarks and noted how the bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act has jump-started the state’s economy.

In addition to the semiconductor industry, Arizona has drawn investment in electric vehicles, autonomous vehicles, solar energy and battery manufacturing, Kelly said.

“These types of manufacturing projects are good for our state, our workers, our economy and our national security,” he said.

“They’re bringing good-paying jobs to Arizona, many of which do not require a four-year degree.”

Sinema said that leadership by ASU, in addition to the state’s business-friendly climate, have helped to draw a diversity of technology industries.

“Our work ensuring that Arizona thrives continues. We’re helping universities, community colleges and small businesses across the state recruit, retain and cultivate the right talent that will power our innovative future,” she said.

Meeting industry demand

Gov. Katie Hobbs gave the keynote address at the conference, telling the crowd that ASU has been instrumental in drawing semiconductor industries to Arizona.

“ASU has made quite an impression on our federal partners, who see Arizona as a conduit to the manufacturing economy,” she said.

“With these investments, it is clear that the nation is quickly recognizing our tenacity for innovation and ability to be an example for other states to follow.”

Hobbs said that ASU’s CareerCatalyst program will widen access to the high-paying jobs that will be created. CareerCatalyst is ASU’s professional-development unit that offers more than 300 online courses that teach in-demand skills in areas that are critical to the Arizona economy, such as microelectronics and project management.

“With a projected 50% of employees who will need reskilling by 2025 and a total of 12 million jobs created in the same amount of time, this program is another critical component of ensuring that our workforce is ready to meet industry demand.”

ASU President Michael Crow said that the university’s role is to teach people how to be lifelong learners.

“We have to produce state-of-the-art-capable individuals in all subjects that we’re involved in each year with that state of the art changing,” he said.

“The key is to build a person who can learn to learn.”

ASU President Michael Crow speaking at conference

ASU President Michael Crow speaks at the 2023 Congressional Conference on Tuesday, Aug. 15, at the Memorial Union on ASU’s Tempe campus. Photo by Charlie Leight/ASU News

Strategic supply chains

The final panel addressed “Strategic Supply Chains and the Role of Tech Hubs,” and was moderated by ASU Professor John Fowler.

The panelists were Mani Janakiram, data analytics executive for Intel; Jennifer Mellor, chief innovation officer for the Greater Phoenix Chamber; and Raghu Santanam, senior associate dean and professor in the W. P. Carey School of Business at ASU.

The panelists said that while drawing big, powerhouse manufacturers like TSMC to Arizona is important, the many suppliers that follow – some of them tiny – are also key.

The suppliers also will need a skilled workforce, Santanam said.

“For every manufacturing job, you have a bunch of others that you need – services workers, restaurants, construction.

“If you look at Arizona and it’s K–12 system, we are second-to-last in high school graduation rate – 76%. If you don’t strengthen that talent supply chain, we will not have the workers that we need,” he said.

Four people sitting at long table behind microphones for panel

Mani Janakiram, with Intel Corp., speaks on "Strategic Supply Chains and the Role of Tech Hubs" on a panel with (from left) Jennifer Mellor of the Greater Phoenix Chamber; ASU Senior Associate Dean Raghu Santanam; and moderator and ASU Professor John Fowler at the 2023 Congressional Conference. Photo by Charlie Leight/ASU News

About 40% of Arizona’s population is underrepresented minorities, Santanam said.

“How do you bring them along and make sure that these opportunities occur for everyone? If you look at manufacturing jobs today, minority representation is in the teens. How do you get it to 40%?

“This is where ASU is the force in the community to make it happen and create these opportunities.”

Top photo: U.S. Rep. Andy Biggs (right) moderates a panel that featured (from left to right) Debra Volzer, who leads government and workforce partnerships for the Society of Manufacturing Engineers; Anne Gielczyk, vice president of NOCTI Business Solutions; John Zappa, director of product management for The ARM Institute; and Michael Cook, global director of the Academic Enablement Group. Photo by Charlie Leight/ASU News

Mary Beth Faller

Reporter , ASU News

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